The Clerk briefed the Committee on the Key Issues Paper from the Commission on the Future for Housing in Northern Ireland.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to the Department seeking immediate Committee access to the Savills’ Report.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to receive evidence sessions in relation to the key points covered in the Commission’s paper.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that it would submit a response to the Key Issues Paper consultation in early 2010.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that arrangements should be made for a Take Note debate on the key issues reviewed by the Committee in connection with the evidence sessions.

8. NIHE Private Sector Grant Programmes- Briefing by Contractors

The following representatives from NIHE Private Sector Grant contractors joined the meeting at 11:40am:

Peter Wallace, Contractors Insurance Guarantee Services Ltd;

Trevor Taylor, Contractors Insurance Guarantee Services Ltd;

Aaron Kearney, Construction Register; and

Maire Nawaz, Federation of Master Builders.

The representatives briefed the Committee on the impact of reduced funding for Housing Executive Private Sector Grant Programmes. This was followed by a question and answer session.

Mr Jonathan Craig left the meeting at 11:49am.

The representatives left the meeting at 12:13pm

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to the Department requesting that the following be addressed during the Departmental briefing on 3 December 2009:

- the amount and timing of funding for NIHE Private Sector Grant Programmes in 2008-09 and 2009-10; and

- NIHE policy and practice in relation to reportedly late and outstanding payments to contractors under various Private Sector Grant Programmes.

9. Correspondence .

9.1 The Committee noted correspondence from the Department regarding the value of the Special Purchase of Evacuated Dwellings (SPED) housing stock.

9.2 The Committee noted correspondence from the Department concerning an alleged fraud associated with a Departmental programme.

9.3 The Committee noted correspondence from the Department confirming that the Housing Executive will brief the Committee on the 10 December 2009 on its annual report.

9.4 The Committee noted correspondence from the Charity Commissioner for Northern Ireland confirming that representatives will brief the Committee on 14 January 2010.

9.5 The Committee noted correspondence from the Department in relation to the Committee’s report on the Implementation of Neighbourhood Renewal.

9.6 The Committee noted correspondence from Partnership Solutions in relation to the third Nationwide BID Survey report.

9.7 The Committee considered correspondence from the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister relating to Child Benefit issues.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to the Clerk of the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister on this matter.

9.8 The Committee considered an invitation from the National Lottery Distributors in Northern Ireland to an event to mark the 15 th anniversary of the National Lottery in Northern Ireland.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content for the Chairperson or Deputy Chairperson to attend, diaries permitting.

9.9 The Committee were content to note two items of miscellaneous correspondence from the Frank Buttle Trust and the University of Ulster.

Ms Carál Ní Chuilín left the meeting at 12:21pm

10. Fuel Poverty- Briefing by Assembly Research and Library Services

Ms Eleanor Murphy from Assembly Research and Library Services briefed the Committee on fuel poverty issues. This was followed by a question and answer session.

The Chairperson thanked Ms Murphy for her briefing.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to the Department to request an update on the recommendations from the Fuel Poverty Taskforce report including the development of a fuel poverty measurement tool and the measures being taken to address the issue of fuel poverty among seriously ill cancer patients.

11. Review of the Support Provision for Carers Report: Clerk’s briefing

The Clerk briefed the Committee on the joint DSD/DHSSPS report on the Review of the Support Provision for Carers.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward a copy of the report to the Education Committee for information.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward related Departmental correspondence to the Health Committee for information.

12. Forward Work Programme

Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with the Forward Work Programme as amended

13. A.O.B.

13.1 Women’s Centres Childcare Fund

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to the Department to seek clarity on funding and the eligibility criteria for the Women’s Centres Childcare Fund.

13.2 Briefing on the Caravans Bill

The Chairperson briefed Committee Members on the circumstances of the delayed briefing of 19 November 2009 on the Caravans Bill.

14. Date, time and place of next meeting

The next meeting will be held on Thursday 3 December 2009 at 10.00am in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.40pm.

Mr Simon Hamilton MLA
Chairperson, Committee for Social Development
Thursday 3 December 2009